14 DAY TRIAL // Santa is not going to gift Chrome OS devices this year, despite Google’s promises to the contrary. It appears that Google’s Chrome-based operating system has pulled a Windows Longhorn / Vista, with the search giant’s Chief Executive Officer Eric Schmidt confirming that the platform has been postponed.
Schmidt did not offer any specific details on the development of Chrome OS, but it appears that Windows will continue to be the dominant force on the netbook market at least by the end of 2010 and in early 2011, simply because it has no competitor, as it already defeated Linux.
Chrome OS, and open source operating system built for netbooks with the Chrome browser at the core, was announced in 2009, and applauded by many as a Windows killer.
The Mountain View-search giant and its OEM partners revealed that the first Chrome OS devices were planned for availability ahead of the 2010 holiday season.
With December just a week away, Schmidt indicates that these plans were revised, and that Chrome OS devices won’t hit store shelves for months to come.
Obviously, consumers will have to wait for 2011 to roll in before they will be able to get their hands on Chrome OS netbooks. Until then, Windows 7 netbooks remain the only alternative for end users, while more technical customers can also consider buying a Linux device.
Schmidt underlined the fact that Chrome OS has been designed with netbooks in mind, namely devices that come with a keyboard, and not form factors that have Natural User Interface (NUI) Touch input models.
According to Google’s CEO, its smartphone OS, Android is tailored to touch capable devices such as tablets / slates.
Major original equipment manufacturers have all denied that Chrome OS netbooks are planned for availability ahead of the holiday season, and it looks like the platform is a no show in the race against Windows. At least for the time being.